Fab Review: Brunch at Ronero

As a food Instagrammer, I go to a lot of restaurants for brunch. After a while, brunch food can get repetitive. So I’m always looking for different cuisines and creative dishes that stand apart from the brunch norm. Ronero is the perfect spot.

Ronero is located east of the main section of Restaurant Row in the West Loop, so it isn’t as crowded as the other spots on Randolph Street. It’s been open for a little over a year and has been on my list for awhile so I decided brunch was the perfect time to go. Ronero serves cuisine that focuses on Latin American flavors.

{Ambiance}
Ronero is smaller space so it has a cozy feel to it. You can easily spot Art Deco accents throughout the restaurant from the light fixtures to the various patterned walls to the banana leaf prints covering the seating area in the main dining area.

Ronero has live music playing during brunch, which really stood out to me. It was a nice relaxing break from the restaurants that play loud club-like music early in the day.

The bar is sleek and modern with gold potted plants hanging from the ceiling in front of a white brick wall.

Opposite to the bar are small booths with long hanging drapes. There is also more dining space beyond the bar and booths.

{Food}
The cuisine at Ronero is upscale and modern while still retaining Latin influences.

FAB TIP: Brunch is served on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.

Desierto Florido Cocktail
I began brunch with one of their house cocktails, the Desierto Florido. I originally thought of ordering the pisco sour, but our server recommended their version of the drink and I was not disappointed. The Desierto Florido was made with pinot noir, adding a unique but delicious twist. I could also taste subtle hints of apple brandy and with every sip there was delightful cinnamon aroma.

Picaron
The Picaron is a Peruvian dessert similar to a donut. With just one bite, you can tell the Picaron was made fresh in-house. Ronero’s version was topped with orange, chocolate, and sea salt. The sea salt added a nice contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate with a hint of citrus from the orange. Mouth-watering rum-infused whipped cream finished off this tasty treat.

FAB TIP: Option to order the Picaron without rum-infused whipped cream.

Cubano Breakfast
The Cubano Breakfast was Ronero’s take on a Cuban sandwich. Savory house-cured ham, duck confit, and bacon laid on top of crisp waffle-pressed bread. The bread was put in a waffle press and had a nice crunch. The dijonnaise combined with pickles gave it a burst of flavor.

Sweet & Tart Waffle
Order the Sweet & Tart Waffle and you won’t have to choose between savory or sweet for brunch. Several light and airy waffles were topped with caramelized plantains, goji berries, and coconut flakes. While the plantains made the waffle sweet, it wasn’t too sugary.

Arepa Benedict
This dish was different than the typical eggs benedict. The Arepa Benedict was served on Colombian arepas, a dough made from ground maize. The thick-cut bacon and hollandaise paired well with the pickled onions.

FAB TIP: Ronero’s upstairs rum bar, Escobar, is open Thursday-Friday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m.

{Experience}
The experience was refreshingly different from the typical West Loop brunch scene, which was exactly what I was looking for! Our server was also very friendly and gave us great recommendations. With the trendy décor and relaxed vibe, it was an overall great spot for brunch.

{Location}
Ronero
West Loop || 738 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 600-6105

{Price Range}
$$ ($11-$36)

{Fab Ratings: 4 Fabs}

Where is your fave spot to go to for brunch? Share below.

Eat, Eat, Repeat,
Lisette

Note: This meal was not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.